Portable relift pump



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 QQN . lNVENTOR 65mm? 4 M l/ E Jan.4, 1955 B. HOUSE ET AL 2,598,553

PORTABLE RELIF'T PUMP Filed Dec. 26. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent pie! PORTABLE RELIFT PUMP Bennie L. House and Arthur K. Shaw,Hickory Ridge, Ark.

Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,272

3 Claims. (Cl. 103-103) This invention relates to low lift centrifugalpumps, which are mounted for transport from place to place as alongirrigation ditches and are used to relift the water at the lower ends ofsuch ditches and discharge it into ditches at a higher level, and whichmay be used for other similar purposes.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a portablepump adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle or tractor, and driven bythe take-off drive mechanism with which such vehicle is equipped andwhich may be raised for transportation and lowered for use and toprovide mechanism for leveling up the pump when it is lowered to pumpinglevel.

A further object is to provide a pump bearing adapted for waterlubrication which will act as a stufling box and through limitedstufiing box leakage provide lubricating water to the bearing, duringoperation of the pump.

Other objects include construction details through which a simple andefficient type of structure are effected.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished andthe manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from thefollowing specification on reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the apparatus with the dischargeend of the discharge pipe incomplete.

Fig. 1A is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the completedischarge ends.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the pump and pump bearing.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the pump taken on the line IIIIII ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the pump bearing on the line IVIV of Fig.2.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, designates a portion of the rear end of a tractor, fromwhich a power take-off shaft 12 projects. The tractor also includessupport means through which attachments of various types may be securedto the tractors and raised and lowered by tractor operated means notshown.

These support means include brackets 14 and 16 respectively extendingdownwardly and upwardly, a pair of stabilizer arms 18,'lifting links 20,and a lifting arm 22 actuated by hydraulic elevator means (not shown) onthe tractor.

2,698,533 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 28 and the link 44 by a pin 46 to thebracket 16 the two links extending from the pins into overlyingrelation, and the link 42 having at its free end a cuff 48 whichslidably embraces the link 44. Intermediate its length the link 42carries a pivot pin 50 and a rigidly attached quadrant 52 having anotched edge 52A, and an arcuate slot 52B, both concentric with thepivot pin 50. A lever arm 54 having its lower end pivotally mounted onthe pin 50, extends upward from the pin and carries a dog 54A adaptedfor engagement with the notches of the quadrant. The lever arm 54 isconnected to the free end of the link 44 by a pivot pin 56, whichextends through the arcuate slot 52B in the quadrant. Movement of thelever shortens or lengthens the effective length of the link assemblyand provides means for leveling up the pump assembly frame 24 atdiffering pump levels.

Rigidly secured to and extending downward and rear-' ward from therearward ends of the side frame members 24 are struts 58, which may beof the same cross section as the side members and which at their lowerends are rigidly secured to the top wall 60A of the volute casing 60 ofa centrifugal pump identified by the same numeral, the casing having alower wall 60B. The pump includes a vertical shaft 62. The top wall 60Aof the casing is aperturcd for the shaft, the end portion 62B of whichextends within the housing and carries and drives a half shroudedimpeller 64 having a hub 64A and an upper, preferably horizontal shroudplate 643 to which depending blades 640 are secured. Lower wall 60B isprovided with an intake or suction opening 60C substantially concentricwith shaft 62. Impeller blades 64C, as shown, are rigidly The presentpump assembly includes a frame comprising side members 24 which may beof channel section and carry at their forward ends rigidly secured pins26 which extend laterally outward and engage in complementary holes (notseparately numbered) in the end portions of the opposite stabilizer arms18. Converging frame members 28, forming an A frame identified by thatnumber, extend upward from the forward ends of the side members 24 andtheir upper ends are apertured to receive a pivot pin 30. Below the pina short cross member or block 31 rigidly joins the upper ends of'the Aframe. Braces 32 extend downwardly and rearwardly and are rigidlysecured to the side members 24. The rearward ends of the side members 24are connected by cross members 34 and 36, which may be of angle ironcross section faced to form a box shaped cross member to which a pumpassembly 38, later herein described, is attached. The upper end of the Aframe 28 is connected to the bracket 16 by an adjustable length assembly40. The link assembly comprises two links 42 and 44, the link 42 beingconnected by the pin 30 to the A frame secured to hub 64A as well as toshroud plate 64B, preferably as by welding. The inner edges of theblades diverge downwardly away from shaft end portion 62B and terminatein horizontal lower edges 64D which closely overlie lower casing wall60B and the lower edges extend inwardly to overlap the periphery ofsuction opening 60C.

From the impeller the shaft extends upward through a bearing of the typeknown as a Goodrich Cutless Marine bearing, the bearing comprising ametal sleeve 66, and a soft rubber sleeve liner 66A, havinglongitudinally coextensive grooves 663 through which water is fed alongthe shaft Within the sleeve, as a lubricant. The bearing is mounted in avertically disposed housing sleeve 68 secured rigidly to and extendingupward from the top wall 60A of the pump casing and may be held in placeby set screws 70, the bearing serving as a stufling box for the pumpshaft and substantially preventing any flow except that needed for shaftlubrication. The shaft is preferably provided with a bronze bearingsleeve 62A extending the length of the bearing.

From the volute casing 60 a discharge p'pe 72 extend outward and upwardand at its upper end terminates in a short discharge section 72Aextending rearwardly and silghtly upwardly. The pump shaft 62 extendsupward into a gear box 74 which is rigidly secured to the cross member34 as by cap screws 76. The pump shaft is driven from the take-01f driveshaft 12, through a universal joint 78, an extensible shaft comprisingtwo sections, 80, 80A, one of which as the section 80, is preferablysquare and the other a hollow section adapted to slidably receive it. Asecond universal joint 84 and a stub shaft 86 which extends into thehousing 74 and through bevel gears in the housing (and not shown),drives the pump shaft, and this irrespective of whether the pump is inraised or lowered position, or being raised or lowered.

Preferably the discharge pipe 72 is braced from the cross member 34 by astrut 88, and the intake to the casing protected by a screen 90.

It will be understood that rigid connection of the various parts may beaccomplished by welding or bolting.

For transportation, the pump 60 is raised by the stabilizer arms 18,lifting links 20 and lifting arm 22 of the tractor, and afterpositioning for use is lowered by the same instrumentalities until thepump casing 60 is partially submerged.

The water level varies relatively to the level of the ground on whichthe tractor stands and vvertically of the pump shaft and leveling up ofthe pump casing must be established for each new location and at timesduring pumping where the water level drops excessively. This may beaccomplished by shift of the lever 54 and if neces-.

sary, the submersion again adjusted by the tractor arms Hand 18 andlinkage 20. IfEneeded further leveling up may obviously be done.

.We claim: 1:. in a portable pump assembly, a horizontally disposedshallowvolute casing having substantially parallel sleeve, :sa-id shaftterminating in an end portion within said casing, said end portionwithin said casing being of a length less than the depth of said shallowcasing, an impeller within said casing, said impeller including an uppershroud plate closely underlying said casing upper wall, a cylindricalhub rigidly fixed to the underside of said shroud plate and axiallyalined with said shaft, said hub :being connected to said shaft endportion to fix said impeller to said end portion, a plurality ofvertical impeller blades, extending along said shroud plate outwardlyfrom said hub and being rigidly fixed to said shroud plate and dependingbelow said shroud plate a, .distance in excess of the length of said endportion, said blades having inner edges adjacent the axis of said shaft,said inner edges abutting against and being rigidly fixed to said huband extending below said hub, said inner edges below said hub uniformlydiverging away from said'shaft axis to define .on shaftjrevol-ution atruncated conical space, said blades terminating in horizontal loweredges closely overlying said lower wall, said lower wall being aperturedto form a suction intake opening concentric with said shaft, saidhorizontal lower edges extending inwardly toward said shaft axistooverlap the periphery of said intake opening whereby the diameter ofthe base of said trunsated conical space is of a length less than thediameter of said intake opening, and screenmeans shielding said intakeopening. I

2. In a portable pump assembly, a horizontally disposed shallow volutecasing having substantially parallel upper and lower walls and adischarge opening in said casing, the upper wall of said casing beingapertured to form an opening for receiving a shaft, a vertical shaftextending downwardly through said opening into said casing, said shaftterminating in an end portion within said casing, said ,end portionwithin said casing being of a length less than the depth of said shallowcasing, an impeller within said casing, said impeller including an 7upper shroudplate closely underlying said casing upper wall, .acylindrical hub rigidly fixed to the underside of said shroud plate andaxially alined with said shaft, said hub being connected to said shaftend portion to fix said impeller to said end portion, a plurality ofvertical impellet blades, extending along said shroud plate outwardlyfrom said hub and being rigidly fixed to said shroud plate and dependingbelow said shroud plate a distance in excess of the length of saidendportion, said blades having inner edges adjacent the axis of saidshaft, said inner edges abutting against and being rigidly fixed to saidhub and extending below said hub, said inner edges below 952,993 MathisMar..22, 1910 1,467,331 McDonald et al. Sept. 11, 1923 1,548,082 WiseAug. 4, 1925 7 1,821,772 Ruthman Sept. 1,1931 1,829,704 Kruseet al. Oct.27, 1931 1,919,375 Maclachlanet al. July 25, 1933 2,203,958 GreenleeJune 11, 1940 2,256,647 Merrill Sept. 23, 1941 2,462,588 Wondra Feb.22,1949 2,468,704 Peppin Apr. 26,, 1949 2,480,387 Smith Aug. 30, 19492,511,466 Gardiner June. 1E1, 1950 2,521,895 Bunting Sept 12,,19502,591,435 ,Hunsacker .Apr. 1, 1952 2,591,662 Struthers Apr. 1, 19522,625,111 Eisenhuth Jan. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Nov. 6, 1947said hub uniformly diverging away from said shaft axis to define onshaft revolution a truncated conical space,- said blades terminating inhorizontal lower edges closely, overlying said lower wall, said lowerwall being apertured to form a suction intake opening concentric withsaid shaft, said horizontal lower edges extending inwardly toward saidshaft axis to overlap the periphery of said intake opennig whereby thediameter of the base of said truncated conical space is of a less thanthe diameter of said intake opening, and screen means shielding saidintake opening.

3. In a portable pump assembly, :a horizontally disposed shallow volutecasing having substantially parallel upper and lower walls and adischarge opening in said casing, the upper wall of said casing beingapertured to form an opening for receiving'a sha'ft, a vertical shaftextending downwardly through said opening into said casing, said shaftterminating in an end portion within .said casing, said end portionwithin :said casing being of a length less than the :depth of saidshallow casing, an impeller within said casing, said impeller includingan upper shroud plate .closely underlying said casing upper wall, acylindrical hub rigidly fixed to the underside of said shroud plate andaxially alined with .said shaft, said hub being connected to said shaftend portion to fix said impeller to said end portion, a plmrality ofvertical impeller blades, extending along said shroud plate outwardlyfrom said hub and being rigidly fixed to said shroud plate and dependingbelow said shroud plate a distance in excess of the length of :said endportion, saidhladeshaving inner edges adjacent the axis of said shaft,said inner edges abutting against and being rig-idly fixed to :said huband extending below said hub, said inner edges below said .hub uniformlydiverging away from said shaft axis to define on shaft revolution atruncatedconical space, said blades terminating in horizontal loweredges closely overlying said lower wall, said lower wall being apertunedto form a suction intake opening concentric with said shaft, saidhorizontal lower :edges extending inwardly- References Cited in thefile:of this patent UNITED STATESIVPATENTS 7

